Dichloroacetate (DCA), a stimulator of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, decreases lactate levels and peripheral resistance and increases cardiac output. This study was performed to examine the effects of DCA on exercise performance in humans. Eight healthy male volunteers (age 20-28 years) were tested by bicycle spiro-ergometry using a microprocessor-controlled gas analysis system after infusion of DCA (50 mg/kg body weight) or saline. Prior infusion of DCA significantly reduced the increase of lactate levels during exercise when compared with infusion of saline (1.40 +/- 0.21 vs 2.10 +/- 0.09 mmol.l-1 at 50% of the expected maximal working capacity, P < 0.05; 8.53 +/- 0.45 vs 9.92 +/- 0.59 mmol.l-1 at maximal working capacity, P < 0.05). Oxygen uptake increased significantly after DCA when compared with saline from 7.5 +/- 0.4 vs 7.4 +/- 0.5 to 27.2 +/- 1.5 vs 23.7 +/- 1.7 (P < 0.05) at anaerobic threshold and to 35.6 +/- 1.7 vs 30.5 +/- 1.0 ml.kg-1 min-1 (P < 0.05) at maximal exercise capacity. Following DCA infusion the workload at which the anaerobic threshold was reached was significantly higher (160 +/- 7 vs 120 +/- 5 W, P < 0.05) and the maximal working capacity was significantly increased (230 +/- 9 vs 209 +/- 8 W, P < 0.05). In summary, DCA reduced the increase of lactate levels during exercise and increased oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold and at maximal working capacity, which was significantly increased. These results warrant further studies on a potential therapeutic application of DCA in patients with reduced exercise capacity.

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1. It has been shown that sodium bicarbonate has no effect or could even be detrimental in various forms of metabolic acidosis. Dichloroacetate, a stimulator of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, might offer an alternative treatment. The present study therefore examines the metabolic and haemodynamic effects of dichloroacetate and sodium bicarbonate in healthy volunteers. 2. On 2 different days, sodium dichloroacetate (50 mg/kg body weight) or sodium bicarbonate (1.5 mmol/kg body weight) was given intravenously as a single bolus in 10 healthy volunteers. Haemodynamic parameters were measured using a microprocessor-controlled system. Measurements were performed before and 30 and 60 min after infusion. 3. After administration of dichloroacetate, cardiac index increased from 2.3 +/- 0.03 to 2.7 +/- 0.1 1 min-1 m-2 (P less than 0.05), peripheral vascular resistance decreased from 266 +/- 9.7 to 240 +/- 1.7 kPa s l-1 (2662 +/- 97 to 2398 +/- 169 dyn s cm-5, P less than 0.05), oxygen availability increased from 442 +/- 16 to 535 +/- 30 ml min-1 m-2 (P less than 0.05) and serum lactate concentration fell from 1.4 +/- 0.14 to 0.6 +/- 0.1 mmol/l (P less than 0.05). With infusion of sodium bicarbonate there were no significant effects on any of these variables. 4. Our results show that dichloroacetate administered intravenously reduces the serum lactate concentration. The main effects of dichloroacetate itself are on the haemodynamic variables. Dichloroacetate increases cardiac index and oxygen availability and decreases peripheral vascular resistance, whereas sodium bicarbonate has no effect on haemodynamic or metabolic parameters. These data give some further insights in the actions of dichloroacetate and support the use of dichloroacetate as alternative therapy in various forms of metabolic acidosis.

In a prospective study we recorded the early postoperative intraocular pressure of 60 eyes following phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation. In 30 patients each the implantation either of a folded polyHema intraocular lens through a 3.5 mm incision or of a polymethylmetacrylate intraocular lens through a 7 mm incision was performed. Healon was used in all eyes and thoroughly evacuated from the capsular bag behind the implanted lens and the anterior chamber. For intraoperative miosis 0.5 ml acetylcholine chloride was injected into the anterior chamber after wound closure. Intraocular pressure was measured preoperatively as well as six hours, 18 hours, one week and two months postoperatively without the influence of antiglaucomatous medication. We found no statistically significant change of intraocular pressure at any measurement time in the 3.5 mm group (Student's t-test, p > 0.1). In the 7 mm group only the rise of intraocular pressure at 18 hours was statistically significant (p < 0.05, student's t-test). The comparison of the changes of intraocular pressure from preoperative values between both groups revealed a statistically significant difference at 18 hours (p < 0.05, student's t-test) but not at any other time recorded. Intraocular pressure exceeding 22 mmHg was found at 6 hours in 4 (13.3%) patients of both groups and at 18 hours in 3 (10%) eyes of the 3.5 mm group and 5 (16%) eyes of the 7 mm group (p > 0.1, Fisher's Exact Test). From these results we conclude that 1) regardless of the wound size the pressure rising effect of Healon is successfully counteracted by the aspiration technique described, and 2) with small-incision cataract surgery statistically significant less changes of intraocular pressure are observed in the early postoperative period.

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